Transcript

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>> The Federal Government newly armed Thursday with vast new powers to hack into Americans' computers and phones anywhere in the U.S. with a single order from a judge. Cyber security reporter Dustin Volz.>> As of December 1st, the FBI can now go to a judge and get one warrant to hack into any number of computers, thousands, perhaps millions, that they believe are being used for criminal purposes.

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Previously a judge would have to only issue a warrant for devices located within their actual jurisdiction, which often just a few counties. Now a judge in Virginia can potentially issue a warrant to allow the FBI to hack into a computer in Georgia or Tennessee or even a foreign country.

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>> Volt says the new rule has privacy experts up in arms.>> The concern among some privacy advocates is that the victims of Botnet attacks where their computers are sort of used for nefarious purposes are then going to be implicated in these hacks from the FBI then. So essentially they're getting hacked twice.

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Once by a criminal and then again by the FBI who's trying to chase that criminal.>> The FBI says the new power known as Rule 41 is needed to keep up with criminal suspects who use software disguising their specific location.>> Things like child pornography or drug trafficking, this rule change will allow the FBI to go to a judge and more easily pursue a criminal when they don't know where their computer is located or who they are.

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>> The new hacking authority granted by a private vote in the Supreme Court, can only be overturned by an act of Congress.